Statements in opposition to Bill 212
As the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act (Bill 212) makes its way through the legislative process, organizations have been speaking up in opposition.
In this blog post, I track statements that have been released about Bill 212, and share some pull quotes from each one. This is mostly for my own reference, but if it is helpful to see what others have been saying as you prepare your own statements and Environmental Registry submissions, please use these as a reference.
For more context on the bill, my analysis, and an overview of actions you can take to voice your opposition, read my previous blog post: https://www.jamiestuckless.ca/blog/bill212
Statements released:
Bloor-Annex BIA: https://x.com/dmrider/status/1849123389937508607
“Premier Ford has asked for the installation of bike lanes to be evidence-driven. Well, all of the evidence we’re seeing tells a very compelling story - bike lanes are good for business, they improve safety for all road users, and reduce congestion. Bloor Street in the Annex is a thriving main street and the bike lanes are an essential part of what makes that possible.”
Association of Municipalities of Ontario: https://www.amo.on.ca/policy/finance-infrastructure-and-economy/province-introduce-legislation-governing-bicycle-lanes
“Requiring provincial approval [of bicycle lanes] would be a significant overreach into municipal jurisdiction. (...) AMO is not aware of any consultation with municipalities regarding bicycle lanes or of the evidence the province considered in its decision.”
“The OTC would urge you to reconsider the legislation, which will create bureaucratic barriers, endanger Ontario’s, and ultimately lead to increased congestion.”
Ontario Professional Planners Institute: https://ontarioplanners.ca/OPPIAssets/Documents/Policy-Papers/OPPI-Statement-on-Bike-Lanes-from-a-Planning-Perspective.pdf
“The proposed legislative changes will not reduce congestion, will increase risk to public safety, and move away from evidence-based practices. It is also counter to the 2024 Provincial Planning Statement, which includes several policies that support the use of bike lanes.”
120 physicians and researchers from the University of Toronto: https://healthydebate.ca/2024/10/topic/legislation-road-design-safety-travel-times/
“The Ministry of Transportation is responsible for serving the people of Ontario, not its motor vehicles. We must address the root causes of traffic congestion and provide options for solutions, such as improved transit connectivity and reliability, incentives for choosing alternatives to motor vehicle travel, and support for complete streets that offer safe and efficient transportation options for all people.”
Women in Urbanism Canada: https://www.womeninurbanism.ca/words/open-letter-stop-bill-212
“If the bill slows down, stops, or even goes as far as reversing the implementation of cycling infrastructure, this would cause significant harm to people of all ages. races, and genders, and would be most harmful to those who already face transportation barriers.”
Green Communities Canada and 12 member organizations: https://greencommunitiescanada.org/letter-to-ontario-minister-of-transportation-about-bill-212/
“High quality networks of protected bike lanes on main streets are critical to providing safe routes to school and supporting higher rates of physical activity. By design, Ontario communities do not generally have side streets that run parallel to main streets for long distances.”
Cover photo provided by Cycle Hamilton.